Category Archives: Colombus Blue Jackets

The question might not be whom to select in Friday’s NHL draft, but this: To trade or not to trade?

The combination of a relatively even distribution of talent among the first-round prospects, certain needs for teams selecting at the front end and a new collective-bargaining agreement looming has the potential for some big deals this week and into the weekend, when all 30 general managers will be in Pittsburgh, ostensibly to make their teams deeper through the draft.

Oilers GM Steve Tambellini said this past week he has no plans to trade the No. 1 overall pick, but he listened to offers, a new development from the past two seasons, when Edmonton did not hesitate to make Taylor Hall and then Ryan Nugent-Hopkins the top selections of 2010 and 2011.

Edmonton — like several teams, including the Islanders — has a crying need for help on defense.

So it might be more of a difference-making forward who gets dealt this week. Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash heads the list, having nearly been dealt at the trade deadline, although he still has a no-trade clause to determine where he’ll go.

The Rangers could be the biggest movers this week. Nash, Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf of the Ducks, and defensemen Shea Weber of the Predators and Tobias Enstrom of the Jets could be targets, with the Rangers using their No. 28 pick and/or some of their deep prospect pool to swing a deal.

Under GM Garth Snow, the Islanders have refused to deal picks and/or young players for established NHLers. This year is no different, although Snow is trying hard to land a defenseman to shore up a thin mix. Only Mark Streit, Travis Hamonic and Andrew MacDonald will be back from the team’s regular 2011-12 defense corps.

A restricted free agent such as the Canadiens’ P.K. Subban would have gotten Snow to strongly consider dealing the fourth overall pick, but new Montreal GM Marc Bergevin isn’t moving Subban, according to those who’ve spoken with him.

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson has many ideas running through his mind about how to improve his team. Trading the second-overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft is one of them and Howson says the pick has already garnered some interest from around the league.

“We’ve certainly listened to people. We’ve had a couple of expressions of interest on the pick in terms of moving down,” Howson told The Morning Show on Sportsnet 960 The Fan on Thursday. “We wouldn’t want to move too far down so we’ll just see how it plays out next week. Traditionally, and if history repeats itself, teams get a little more serious about exchanging picks as we get closer to the draft on the draft floor.”

Howson, who has been the Blue Jackets GM since 2007, said he is looking at any and all avenues to improve his squad and is open to dealing his top pick if the right offer is made. But he also admitted that trading away a high draft pick can be quite difficult.

“We’d be open to any suggestions,” Howson said. “It’s not an easy trade to trade out of the two slot, or one slot or three slot for that matter.”

The Blue Jackets are no strangers to making deals close to draft day either. One day before last season’s draft, Howson traded Jakub Voracek to the Philadelphia Flyers along with the eighth-overall pick (which the Flyers used to select Sean Couturier) in exchange for forward Jeff Carter.

In February, Howson then flipped Carter to the Los Angeles Kings for defenceman Jack Johnson and a conditional first-round pick. Although disappointed Carter didn’t help his club like he anticipated, Howson has no regrets about the signing and was pleased he was able to get a good return when they traded him.

The New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks were left at the alter at the February trade deadline because they weren’t willing to pay the massive price being demanded by Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson.

2. Roberto Luongo, G, Vancouver: There are a lot of teams looking for goaltending: Toronto, the Tampa Bay Lightning, Columbus and the Chicago Blackhawks to name a few.

The issue is the contract given to Luongo by Canucks GM Mike Gillis. He always considers himself the smartest guy in the room, but giving Luongo a deal through with a cap hit of $5.3 million through 2021-22 was ridiculous.

3. Jordan Staal, C, Pittsburgh: This guy would attract plenty of attention. He is the best third-line centre in the league.

The Penguins are going to have to clear cash if they’re going to keep this team together. That could mean moving out a player like Staal because Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin aren’t going anywhere.

The New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks were left at the altar at the February trade deadline because they weren’t willing to pay the massive price being demanded by Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson.

The Jackets are in a tough spot because Nash has made it clear he wants out. His $7.8-million cap hit through the 2017-18 season means only certain teams can be involved in the discussions and he has to approve any deal.

Nash wants to be moved to a contender. The Rangers and Sharks both need scoring. Don’t be surprised if the Buffalo Sabres try to get into these discussions.

2. Roberto Luongo, G, Vancouver: There are a lot of teams looking for goaltending: Toronto, the Tampa Bay Lightning, Columbus and the Chicago Blackhawks to name a few.

The issue is the contract given to Luongo by Canucks GM Mike Gillis. He always considers himself the smartest guy in the room, but giving Luongo a deal through with a cap hit of $5.3 million through 2021-22 was ridiculous.

Moving the contract is going to be even more difficult. Bolts GM Steve Yzerman has declared he wants nothing to do with that kind of trade. Toronto GM Brian Burke would have to swallow his pride to acquire Luongo.

Burke has often been an opponent of long-term deals. Perhaps the only hope for Gillis and the Canucks is an “amnesty” clause in the new CBA. That would allow the Canucks to buy him out and not have a cap hit.

John Davidson, president of hockey operations for the St. Louis Blues, interviewed last week for an executive-level position with the Blue Jackets, The Dispatch has learned via NHL sources.

Davidson, 59, was in Columbus on May 29 to interview with Blue Jackets’ majority owner John P. McConnell and club president Mike Priest.

Neither McConnell nor Priest would comment on the club’s interest in Davidson last week when The Dispatch requested an interview. Through a club spokesman, McConnell said that his franchise will continue to “pursue every opportunity to improve as a hockey club.”

It’s unclear what role Davidson might fill with the Blue Jackets, or how his addition would affect the role of Priest, or others. In St. Louis, he presided over an experienced and accomplished hockey operations staff, but Columbus has one of the most inexperienced front offices in the NHL.

Also to consider is what impact Davidson’s arrival would have on the impending trade of Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash, who asked to be traded last winter after he was told by management that the Jackets were rebuilding. One NHL source said he suspected a meeting between Davidson and Nash would be one of the first items on Davidson’s agenda should he join the Blue Jackets.

The Washington Capitals’ trade of Tomas Vokoun, and his subsequent two-year contract in Pittsburgh, takes a talented veteran goalie off of the market. Boston’s Tim Thomas has decided to take a year off to spend more time with his family. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets’ Curtis Sanford has agreed to play in Russia next season in the KHL.

In a roundabout way, those moves may improve the Sharks’ chances of landing Columbus captain Rick Nash, something they reportedly did around last February’s trade deadline.

The Blue Jackets have already made it known that they are looking for a different look in goal next season from starter Steve Mason, who was dreadful, as Columbus posted the worst record in the NHL. Our friends at ProHockeyTalk.com point out that the Blue Jackets have just two goaltenders signed for next season – Mason, and the 22-year-old Allen York, who has just 11 games of NHL experience.

If they do in fact decide to move Nash, as is expected, you can assume that the Blue Jackets would want a netminder in return as part of the deal. The Sharks’ prospect pool is thin, but goaltending is still one area that is considered a position of strength within the organization.

The Sharks have starter Antti Niemi locked up for another three years at a cap hit of $3.8 million according to CapGeek.com, while backup Thomas Greiss is signed through next season at $587,500. Prospect Alex Stalock, who looks to be completely recovered from a serious nerve injury more than a year ago, is a restricted free agent, as is AHL All-Star Tyson Sexsmith. Harri Sateri, another minor leaguer, has one year remaining on his deal.